Cold War Kids

The U.S. Open of Surfing, the world's largest professional surfing competition, begins its nine-day run Saturday in Huntington Beach, where top surfers will compete for a piece of the $350,000 purse, including the $100,000 first prize in the men's division. Huntington Beach native Brett Simpson, who last year became the first Surf City USA native to win the Open, is back. He faces heavyweights Mick Fanning ( Australia), Taj Burrow (Australia), Andy Irons ( Hawaii), C.J. Hobgood ( Florida)

Imagine Dragons, the Flaming Lips, Cold War Kids and Colbie Caillat are among eight acts confirmed to play a new-generation Human Rights Concert benefiting Amnesty International on Feb. 5 at the Barclays Center in New York. Lauryn Hill, Tegan and Sara, the Fray and Cake are also confirmed to be on the Bringing Human Rights Home concert, which is being organized to raise awareness of human rights for young musicians and fans. Tickets go on sale Saturday through Ticketmaster. Amnesty International's concerts of the 1980s and 1990s were a key component of the era's pop music with a social conscience, and drew attention around the world with performances by U2, Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, the Police, Sting, Peter Gabriel, Lou Reed, Tracy Chapman, Youssou N'Dour and many others.

As a jet-setting DJ, club promoter, fashionista and poster boy for the indie dance scene, Steve Aoki has enjoyed a meteoric rise in profile over the last few years. But his original love, Dim Mak, the independent record label he founded almost a decade ago, has treaded water, lacking the clout to promote the acts Aoki unearthed.